How Happy can the Happiest Place on Earth Be at X-mas?

[threadwalker]

Pretty darn Happy!

One week, 14 hours in the car with two little kids, 10 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and 5 days of park hopping later ... I can't wait to do it again!

This morning the Littlest was confused - "we going Mickey Mouse House today? We going Di-nee-wand?" After a week of Disney, she thinks everyday should be spent stalking princesses, riding flying pirate boats, and watching bugs dance.

Highlights:

I love the gas-saving Prius, but it is small. It was PACKED. I warned the spouse after I finished cramming every spare spot, pockect and cranny that if he opened the hatch on it, everything would burst outward like the "can of snakes" prank we had as kids.

Holding hands with spouse on Pirates.

Seeing the "Nightmare" Haunted house. (I prefer the original).

Looks on kids faces when they met Mickey Mouse, Cin'erella and Snow White.

Dinner at Hook's Pointe on Christmas with the entire gang. Despite the 2hr wait to be seated.

A Christmas Morning with the entire family in one place.

The parked closed at noon on X-mas - it had reached maximum capacity. We were claustrophobic and retreated to CA Adventure, which was only as crowded as D-land on a normal day.

Seeing my favorite uncle and cousin at dinner on Tuesday.

Sitting in the very front of California Screaming after waiting only 2 minutes in line. (Fast Passes are genius!)

Finally beating the spouse at Buzz Lightyear - and declining to play again so that I don't have to give up bragging rights.

Riding Buzz Lightyear with my blaster waving kids.

Not loosing control of any of my bodily functions on Tower of Terror.

Riding the Matterhorn Bobsleds and accidentally scraping my finger tips on the roof of the tunnel (ouch!).

Taking my mom on rides she rode in 1965 and on others that didn't exist in 1965. (1965 was her only other visit to the park).

Watching my son dance on stage at the "Ugly Bug Ball".

Getting into the Park before 8am on Monday and enjoying the relative calm.

Riding with the entire family on Storybook both during day and at night.

Meeting Santa and seeing real reindeer. Painting cookies and getting blue tongues.

Shopping for the Villianesses in my life.

Finally seeing the Queen of Narnia at her spot next to Sweeping Beauty's Castle Monday night. The area is roped off and we lurked in that area for most of the trip without seeing any signs of her. She was there Monday night in her white gown, crystal crown, up-swept locks and sinister look. They did a really good job with costume and characterization. She was glaring at everyone and those brave enough to get their photo taken with her - she looked like she was going to take a bite out of their necks.

Waiting out the staggering line at Indiana Jones Monday night and leaving the park at 12:45 am.

Goodby Mickey Mouse. You've parted us from enough of our lucre.

'Nuf said. I can't wait to get the pictures.

Comments

[falzalot.livejournal.com]

Wow! Sounds like a wonderful trip!! :-> I need to go back again, because one day wasn't enough to see everything we wanted to see. Or at least ~I~ wanted to see. :->

[beanolc.livejournal.com]

Sounds wonderful. I'm sorry we couldn't go... but it sounds a LOT more crowded than I actually thought it'd be!! lol!

Maybe a short trip this summer?

[thread-walker.livejournal.com]

I think the worst was Christmas day, when the park closed at noon because it reached max capacity. (It lightened up when we returned from CA Adventure, and naps around 4pm and it wasn't super-duper packed. I suspect the X-mas crowd was having X-mas dinner elsewhere.) It seemed kind of heavy to me on Monday, too, but Monday was a holiday for most folks so that makes sense. Which is why we used our "get in early" on that day. (perk of the 5-day park hopper was to get in at 7am, before the park opens, on one day). The rest of the days didn't seem any more crowded than on other visits. And it was relatively sane at the various thrill rides after 9pm. CA adventure was really light almost the entire trip. And you have got to love Fast Passes.

I would go back during a nonholiday weekend. Da Spouse and I are considering returning before October ... which is before Littlest turns 3 because she's still free until then. Big incentive! Maybe we can coordinate.

We're considering annual passes since they pay for themselves in place of getting two 3-day park hoppers. And we've decided 5 days is too much, 3-days of park with maybe one day to relax (making it a 4-day trip) would probaby be best for us. We'll keep you in the loop on whatever we do.

[beanolc.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me! We owe my dad a visit, and he lives nearby. It would be a great way to fulfill that obligation but still have fun with people we like! ;-)

[mad-duchess.livejournal.com]

I have gotten the Premium Annual Pass for several years now and have never regretted it. It's a bit more expensive, but it pays for itself sooooo quickly that I recommend it. It includes free parking, and discounts on virtually anything/anywhere including downtown Disney (the less expensive passes have restrictions not only on which days you can use them, but also on which places give you discounts). Since most of my casual clothes these days seem to sport a mouse logo on them (weird) I know I'm making good use of that discount!